Lubricating apparatus



- 1,633 304 June 211927' F. s. BARKs LUBRICATING APPARATUS Filed vMarch12, 1926 v 3 Sheets-Sheet l 1,633 304 June 21 1927. F. s. BARKSLUBRICATING APPARATUS y 'Filed Maron 12,A 1926 3 sheets-sheet 2 1,633304 June 2l 1927 .E 5, BARKS LUBRICATING APPARATUS Filed March 12, 192e3 sheets-sheet 3 Patented June 2l, `1927..

UNITED STATES rmx s. maxe, or sr.- Lours, msspunr.

LUBBICATING APPARATUS.

Application med Hai-ch 1 2, 1926: Serial lo. 94,131.'

rl`his invention relates to 'greasing apparatus, and with regard tocertain more speciiic features to a portable grease un vAmong theseveral objects, of the invention may be noted the provision of aportable greasefgun-which isV adapted to permit passage of plressuredfluid therethrough and cut off suc passage; the provision of a greasegun of the class described which is adapted to raise the pressure in theoutlet lines connected therewith or to decrease said pressure indeendcntly of'theinlet pressure; and the provision of afgreasedeliveringassembly adapted to deliver grease at normal pressures by asimple'movement of the hand, and to deliver grease at-" ybl'iormall highpressures or retract itjjatiI-'itbnorma ly low pressures by meansofanother simple movement. Other objects willbe in part obvious and inpart pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists of the elements and combinations ofelements, features of construction,l andV arrangements of parts whichwill be exemplified inthe structure hereinafter described and the scopevof the application of which will be indicated in the following claims. vIn the accompanying drawings, in which is shown one of various ossibleembodiments of the invention an a modified element therefor,

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the pump, showing parts broken away;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section :r taken on line 2 2 of Fig'.l;

Fig. 3 is a vertical lateral section taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a `fragmentary front elevation of certain pumping elements;

Fig. 5 is a lateral section taken on line 5 5 of Fig. 2; v

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the grease gun element;

Fig. 7 is a vertical longitudinal section taken on line 7 7 of Fig. 6;vi

Fig. 8 is a side elevation of thedevice coinpletely assembled foroperation; and,

Fig. 9 is 'a' side elevation of a modiied form of delivery tube.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout theseveral viewsfo-f the drawings.

Referringjnow more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2 of the' drawings, thereis illustrated at numerals 1 and 3, a pair of longitudinal side fra-mesor rails. Each of the frames, or

rails 1 and 3 is formed with a leg 5 at the front and rearand each leg 5is provided v horizontal flat and/or machined surfaces 9 for the purposeof receiving bolted thereto, at the forward ends, a laterally formedpump casting 11. Rearwardly the surfaces 9 of the frames 1 and 3 havebolted thereto a laterally formed engine casting 13. The frames 1 and 3and castings 11 and 13 form a unit.. For stiffening purposes across-bolt14 and spacer 16 are provided laterally between and centrally of the jside frames. This stiifening device may be dispensed with in small sizesof the pump.

Held to opposite sides of said castings 11 and 13 is a handle or .grip17 by means of which the greasing device as a whole may be lifted andtransported about.

Referrmg now more particularly to the forward pump casting 11, it may beseen that said casting comprises flanges 25 whereby it is bolted to theside frames 1 and 3, Y

as described. Longitudinally and centrally of said langes and formedtherewith is a bored lunger cylinder 27 rovided at its forwar valve 29.As indicated in Fig. 2, the rear end of said plunger cylinder iscounterbored to receive a stuffing gland 31. This gland can be omitted.

Around a more or less central portion of the bore of cylinder 27 iscored an inlet passage or space 35 which leads up to a chamber 37 castintegrally with the boredcylinder'27. Bolted to the flanged top of saidchamber 37, in grease-tight fashion, is a 'grease container 39. Thecontainer is provided with a lid 41 (Fig. 4). The bottom 43 thereof isprovided with an opening 45 which aligns with the upper openlng of the vchamber 37 and is adapted to receive the conical rim of a strainer 47therein.

Now, as will later be made clear, rease and the like is adapted to bedrawn or orced from the container, through the strainer 4 7, passages37, 35, bore of cylinder 27, valve 29, to a supply line L (preferablyflexible) made fast to the outlet end of the valved cylinder 27.

To accomplish the above purpose, a plunger 51 is caused to reciprocatein the end with a'conventional ball checkl out into the line L. Instarting the device,

it may be primed by pouring oil into the passage 35 by way of thecontainer 39. If after a period of operation the device should lose itsprime, priming may be accomplished by inverting said device, removing aplug 53 leading to chamber and pouring oil or the like into said chamber35. This latter method of priming saves the operation of removing greasefrom the container 39 in order'to get oil into the passage 35.

It is obvious that the reciprocating action of the plunger 51 may becontinued indefinitely to draw grease from the container 39 anddischarge it into line L. In order to' reciprocate the plunger, an airengine E is provided at the rear of the device. This engine isassociated with Aand cast (in part) with the said casting 13.

The air engine E comprises a work cylinder 55 to which islongitudinallycast, on center line, a spring retaininor cylinder 57. These cylindersare adapted as a unit) to be aligned on center line with the cylinder27, at least approximately.

Passing through the cylinder 57 and into cylinder 55 is a piston rod 59.The rod 59 passes out of the forward end of said cylinder 57 andcooperates with the plunger 51 by means of a counterbore and cross pincombination 61. The stated combination '61 is permanent but duringassembly permits of some mis-alignment between the cylinders 55, 57 and27, in so far as the counterbore in the shaft 59 may be made somewhatlarger than the diameter of plunger 51.

t the rear end, .the rod 59 is provided with a driving piston 63. Thepiston 63 is normally held to the left or rear end ot its cylinder bymeans of a spring 73 reacting etween said piston and the front ofcylinder 57.

A driving stem 75 for the valve gear of engine E is supported withregard to, and moves with the piston rod 59. It is so supported for thesaid movement by screwing the rear end of it into the piston 63 andpinning the forward end into a vertical racket 77, which bracket is heldby means of a tight fit, and set screw 79 to the forward jointed end ofthe piston rod 59,. The said rod 7 5 passes through a proper passage inthe head end of cylinder 55 and is steadied by passage through an ear 81at the front end of the cylinder 57.

' A; cross-shaped lug 83 is cast on the top of the work cylinder 55. Thelug isv pro- Avided with a longitudinal bore 85 for slidably receiving avalve 87. Positive movement-limiting heads 89 and 91 are provided at therear and front ends respectively ot this valve. The front head 91 servesalso to lock a valve stem 93 to the valve.

vertically drilled across the valve bore 85 are passages 95 and 97serving inlet and exhaust purposes respectively. These passages are bothjoined to a cylinder port 99 by way of a common passage 101. which isalso drilled. and 'thereafter end-plugged as shown in the drawings. Thepassage 101 is interposed between the valve 87 and the interior ofcylinder 55. The exhaust passage 97 leads directly to the atmosphere andthe inlet passage is provided with a conventional air inlet plu 103.

To bring air to the inlet passage 95 it is only necessary to hold aconventional air nozzle 105 (such as is used for filling automobiletires and available at most garages) to the plug 103. The plug 103 andnozzle 105 mutually open one another and air may iow from the compressedair line 107, associated with said nozzle 105, to the inlet passage 95.The description of the plug 103 and nozzle 105 is not detailed here, inso far as their constructions and combination are well known,conventional, and are not claimed herein to be new per se.

In order to hold the nozzle 105 to the plug 103, a hinge block 109 isheld to the lug 83 lFiy means of a. shoulder on the plug 103 (see ig.5). To this block 109 is hinged an adjustable saddle member 111, whichis adapted to swing over the nozzle 105 and be clamped down thereon.thereby holding the nozzle in place for delivering air. lVing nuts 113make removal ot' the saddle 111 from the nozzle 105 easy and handy,whereupon the nozzle may readily be removed by lifting, andA whence airautomatically ceases to How from the nozzle 105, 0r tend to flow intothe passage 95.

Returning to the valve construction, the drawings (Fig. 2) show that thevalve 87 is rovided with a groove 115 adapted to register with the saidinlet passage 95 and outlet passage 97 when the' valve is in its maximumrearward and forward positions respectively. Hence, by positioning thevalve 85 rearwardly, the exhaust passage 97 is closed, while the inletpassage 95 is opened, whereb compressed air may pass from the line 10through the open nozzle 105, open plug 103, passage 95 and groovell,passage 101, passage 99and to the cylinder 55, where work is done topress the piston 63 forwardly against the action of sprin 73. By thismeans the plunger 51 is ma e to take a grease forcing stroke ashereinbefore described.

Next, by positioning the valve 85 forwardly, the groove 115 .aligns withthe exhaust passage 97, as shown in Fig. 2, whereupon the inlet passage95 isy closed. This action permits movement of air from the cylinderthrough passages 99, 101, 97 and groove 115. Such movement of air iscaused by the tendency of the airV to re-expand 'and the expandingaction of spring 73 which pushes the piston 63 rearwardly. Of course theport 99 is near the head 71 so that the cylinder 55 may be substantiallyemptied of air.

Movement-'of the piston 63 and rod 59 rearwardly results in anevacuating stroke of plunger 51, whereby the grease cylinder 27 is againreloaded as hereinbefore described.

In order to automatically osition the valve 85at its said maximum orwardand rearward positions, so that pumping may be continuous when desired,the following fullstroke mechanism is used:

Vertically fastened to the driving rod 75 is fastened a driving bracket117 adapted to slidably engage the stem 93. Springs 119 and 121 arelaced over said stem 93 rearwardly and orwardly respectively. Thesesprings 119 4and 121 respectively engage the said headl and another head123 of the stem 93. The bracket 117 engages the springs in its travelback and forth along the.

stem 93. It is obvious that upon engaging and compressing a spring to agiven point, that the driving bracket (moving with the piston rod 59)will drive the valve stem 93.

In order to prevent the valve 87 from -moving to reverse a given strokeof the piston 63 before the stroke is substantially finished, and tocause said valve to t-ake a full stroke at every movement thereof, it isrecessed at points 125 and 127. Corresponding points on the recesses area distance apart equal to the distance between the passages 95 and 97.

Formed horizontally across the valve passage 85, at a pointcorresponding to the position of recess 125 when the valve 87 is in'pending upon which recess 125 or 127, thev balls 131 are cooperatinwith.

When the driving racket 117 moves against the spring- 119 (Fig. 2) andSubstantially compresses it, the rearward motion of the lpiston 63 isadapted to be about completed. In the meantime the recess 125 and hails131 have caused ythe valve 87 not to be moved, despite the partialcompression of 95 spring 119. Finally at or near the end of the strokeof piston 63, the spring is adapted to have been compressed enou h toovercome the holding power of the ba s 131, and

the valve `87 moves under action of the spring ,119. The valve must moverearwardly its full stroke because, as the high ridge 137 between therecesses 125 and 127 passes' v vmotion of the piston is reversed to aforward direction, and reversal of the above events takes place. Thistime, however, the spring 121 comes into play, while spring 119 is idle.The reverse events will be obvious from the foregoing.

The pumping action by means of the engine E is then continuouslyautomatic as long as certain other events, to be described, take place.Of course when the nozzle 105 is removed from the engine E, no air isavailable to do work, and no grease is pumped to the line 49.

In order to control the pumping action of the device, the supply line Lis provided with a manually operable gun Gf'(Figs. 6 to 8). This guncomprises certain novel features per se, which are also novel in com-`bination with the described.

The gun G comprises a body 139 which is rovided with a longitudinaldifferential hore 141. This bore 141 is provided with a plunger 143which is held slidably in a section 145 of said bore and emerges fromthe bore through a conventional stuffing gland 147. The section 145 ofthe bore 141, as well as the plunger 143 are of a relatively smalldiameter so that leakage therearound and therefrom is negligible, and inview of the gland 147 cannot l detected even at high internal pressures.

At its upper portion, the bore 141 is intersected by a laterally formedpassage 149. The stern or plunger 143 crosses the passage 149 and isrovided at its lower end withy a nose 151 a apted to press a ball check153 from its seat 155. The portion 157 of the pumping elements abovebore 141 around the nose 151 is amply large A enough to permit passageof greases and like fluids therethrough.

The plunger 143 is adapted to be presed down by means of an adjustablepivot pin 160 locked to a handle 159, and cooperating with a pivotbearing 161 of said plunger 143. The handle 159 is pivotedto oscillatinglinks 163 which in turn are pivoted to the said body 139. A downwardlyextending slotted lug 165 of said handle 159 is adapted to slidablyengage a stud 167 made fast to the upper portion of the body 139. Thepurpose of this engagement is to limit the travel of the lug 165 of thehandle 159 between the upper portion of the body 139 and the head of thestud 167. The travel of the handle 159 is thus limited betweenpredetermined positions.

Referrin now again to the ball check valve 153 1t may be noted that theball is normally held up to a `seat by means of a spring pressedreaction member 169. The member 169 comprises an upward craterlike tip171 which supports the ball 153 in its mouth. A lateral slot 17 3 is cutacross said crater-like portion 171 and a vertical passage 175 leadsdown from the crater of the tip 171 and the said slot 173. The member169 is guided in the bore 141 and is Aheld upwardly against the ball 153by means of the sprin 177. The spring 177 reacts at its lower en againsta bored plug 179 which is screwed into ythe passage 141. It is evidentthat if grease or the like under pressure, passes upwardly through thepassage 175, .having come through the bored plug 179, that it will tendto seat the ball valve 153. The spring 177 assists this action. By thismeans the handle 159 is held in its Fig. 7 position with the lug 165preferably at or against the head of the stud 167. If it is desired toopen the checkvalve 153, the handle 159 may be depressed, whereupon thenose 151 of the cooperating plunger 143 unseats the ball valve 153.Hence, grease may flow through the passage 175, slotted portion 173 andaround the ball valve 153 to empty itself into the passage 149 bymovement through the opening 157 around the said nose 151. Release ofthe handle again permits the ball valve 153 to seat under incomingpressure of the fluid and`pressure of the spring 17 7 The lower end ofthe body 139 is closed by means of a bored and tapped tip or cap 181.The bore o-this tip 181 is provided with a check valvev183 which isadapted to open under influence of incoming pressure but to close underoutgoing pressure. The valve 183 is normally held to a seat by means ofa spring 185 reacting thereon. The gasket 187 held fast to the valvebody provides a tight seat on the enclosure 181. The valve body 183 isprovided with a downwardly extending nose 189 for purposes hereinafterto be described. It should be noted that the spring 185 reacts againstthe plug 179 as was the case with the case of the spring 17 7 Screwedsidewardly into the intersecting passage 149 is a pressure-varyingcylinder 191. This cylinder 191 is `provided with a bore 193 and arearward threaded cap 195. The cap 195 is provided with a cooperatingthreaded plunger rod 197 which carries an operating handle 199 at theouter end thereot. The inner end of the rod 197 is provided with a.`fluid tight piston 201 which slidably cooperates with the rearward wall203 of the bore 193.

The outlet end of the passage 149 is threaded to receive the threadedend ofl a flexibley tube assembly 205 (Fig. 8). The assembly 205 isprovided with a bayonet slotted head 207 such as is ordinarily used forconnecting tube assemblies of this type to oiling" tips screwed into thedevices to be greased. The ordinary operation for greasing comprisespushing the head 207 down over its tip. and the lug thereon, and thentwisting it, whereat, if pressure is built up inthe assembly 205, thenit is almost im ossible to remove the head 207 (under or inaryconditions) until said pressure is relieved. This is because of thebayonet connection at the head 4207. With the ordinary grease guns it isdiiiicult to release this pressure if a clogged bearing is encountered.These devices work on the principle that if pressure is built up in theassembly 205 that a clogged bearing will be forced to clear itself, butit so happens that pressures cannot be always built up to an extentgreat enough to clear some .clogged bearings. As will be seen, thepresent device is readily removed in view of the contingency stated.

It is to be understood that the type of assembly illustrated at numeral205 is not the only one that may be applied to the gun. For instance themodified nozzle assembly 209 (Fig. 9) may be used, which comprises apipe to which a ported nozzle 211 is screwed. The port of this nozzle211 is adapted to be pressed against an oiling tip by main orcefrom thegun itself. By this means grease may be fed to the port opening in theopening of the oiling tip. The illustrated assemblies 205 and 209 areonesA that are now ordinarily used in reasing practice. They illustratetwo of t e various systems now 1n use or those which might be put intouse.

Fig. 8 illustrates the engine and pum assembly connected to the greasegun (d: means of a line L leading from the outlet of the pump tothe'in'let tip 181 of said gun.

The operation of the assembled device is as follows:

The gun G has for its pur ose the closin and opening of the passage ogrease through the line L, whereby pumping by the en ine E is prevented,or permitted to take p ace, as desired. If the line L is positivelyclosed at the gun G, the air engine ceases to operate because greasecannot be ejected with the normal air pressure available. If the line isopened grease can pass and the air engine automatically goes intooperation and continues operation until the line is again closed. Theabove described starting and isb the tip 181, opening the valve 183,passing through the open check valve system, to the passage 149, outthrough the assembly 205l or the like and to the bearing to be greased,

if the head 207 or the like is properly connected. The nose 189 on .thevalve 183 permits amore or less stream-line action of the grease pastsaid valve. Furthermore, when the valve 183 reseats, then the nose 189acts to pierce the grease behind the valve whereby the valve may betterseat with less back pressure required, that is the valve ismoresensitive.

After a bearing has been sufiiciently greased, the grip on thehandle 159is released whereupon the ball check valve 153 closes under action ofthe spring 177 and the pressure there-behind. If the bearing was notclogged, then the pressure in the assembly 205 and the portion 191 ofthe gun G automatically decreases after closure of the valve 153. Thispermits ready removal of the head 207. `The pressure on both sides ofthe valve 183 is equalized and said valve comes to a seat under actionof a spring 185.

If, after closure of the valve 153 from the handle 159, it should bediscovered that the head 207 couldnot be removed from its tip because ofa clogged bearing not permitting release of pressure, then the handle199 might be screwed down to move the pistou 201 into the bore 203.Hence the pressure in the cylinder 191 and line 205 connected therewithmight be brought up to an enormous value. This pressure might be broughthigh enough to force out the obstruction in the bearing to be greased.In other Words, the portion 191 would act as a. pressure booster toclear the bearing. This action would unseat the ball 153 but the checkvalve `183 would prevent passage of pressure back into the line L. Thepressure may be boosted enormously because lof the mechanical adthatwhich obtained in the line 205 or the like, due to the operation of thepump connected therewith by means of line L or the like. Hence, the head207 could readily be removed from its greasing tip. It is evident thatif the pressure-in the port-ion 191 were decreased below that of theline L; that the. check valve 153 would seat therebv preventing pressurefrom again building up by passage from said line L.

It is evident from the above that the device herein described provides agrease gun which is ready at any and all times for immediate operation,merely by grippin the handle 159 against the portion 191. urthermore,means is provided for decreasing the pressure therein below that of theinlet line pressure. Hence, in all cases the operator is in a positionto readily remove an oiling head fronr its tip. He also has at hisimmediate disposal means for .at least attempting to clear al bearing.

In View of the above, it is believed that the various features of thisinvention will be clear without further elaboration, and it will be seenthat with the apparatus `herein described, the several objects of theinvention are attained and other advantageous results attained.

As many changes could be made in carrying out the above constructionwithout dearting from the scope of the invention, it is intended thatall matter contained in the above description or shown in theaccomanying drawings shall be interpreted as lustrative and not in alimiting sense.

I claim:

1. 'A grease gun comprising a body, an inlet therefor and an outlet, acheck valve at the inlet and an inverted-check valve in series therewithand therebehind with respect to the direction of grease How, a plungerfor opening the second valve operable from a handle linkage cooperatingwith the body, and means communicating with the passage between saidsecond valve and the outlet for increasin and decreasing' pressure atsaid outlet in e endently of the inlet pressure and inde en ently ofmovement by said handle lin age comprising an independent pressurecontrolling mechanism adapted not to reverse under reaction of forcesengendered thereby when manual pressure is not maintained to hold it inposition.

2. A grease gun comprising a body, an inlet therefor and an outlet, a'check valve at the' inlet and an inverted check valve longitudinallyaligned therewith and therebehind with respect to the direction yofgrease l flow, a plunger for opening the second valve longitudinallyaligned with both of said valves and passing from the body, a handlelinked to said body and adapted to cooperate with the plunger to moveit, means for adjusting thehandle with respect to the plunger, and meanscommunicating with the passage between said second valve and theoutlet-for increasing .and decreasing pressure at said outlet comprisinga pressure controlling mechanism.

3. A grease gun comprising a body, an inlet therefor and an outlet, acheck valve at the inlet and an inverted check valve longitudinallyaligned therewith .and therebehind with respect to the direction ofgrease low, a plunger for opening the second valve longitudinallyaligned with both of Said valves and passing from the body, a handlelinked to Said body and adapted to cooperate with the plunger to moveit, .and means communicating with the passage between said second valveand the outlet for increasing and decreasing pressure at said outletcompris= `ing a pressure controlling mechanism positioned adjacent saidhandle 'whereby when said mechanism is gripped with said handle` the gunis made to normallyfunction.

4. A grease gun comprising a body, an inlet therefor, an outlet, anautomatically closing check valve at the inlet and an automaticallyclosing inverted check valve in series therewith and therebehind` withrem spect to the direction of grease flow, said inverted check valvebeing ,longitudinally aligned with the rst named check-valve, a plungerfor opening the second valve, said plunger being longitudinally alignedwith both' of said valves and passing from the body, a handle linked to`said body, adjustable means or causing the handle to open the invertedcheck valve upon movement of the handle, and means communicating withthe passage between said second valve and the outlet for increasing anddecreasing pressure at said outlet independently of inlet pressure,comprising a cylinder having a plunger therein, means for operating theplunger adapted not to reverse under reaction or forces engenderedthereby, said cylinder lbeing juxtapositioned with respect to 'thehandle in .a manner whereby said cylinder and handle may be gripped withone hand to cause opening ofsaid `invert-ed check valve, and saidiplunger operating means operated with the other hand.

lin testimony whereof, l have signed my name to this specication this8th day of March, 1926.

FRANK S. BKS.,

